Wednesday, 1 July 2026

Wild Bird Wednesday 727 - Kalij Pheasant

The Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos) is a pheasant found in forests and wooded areas, in the Himalayan foothills, from Nepal, Pakistan to western Thailand. 

Males are rather variable depending on the subspecies involved, but all have at least partially glossy bluish-black plumage, while females are overall brownish.  These birds seem to be of the sub-species that are known as the White-Crested Kalij Pheasant (for reasonably obvious reasons!)

If people are familiar with the more common (and widely introduced) Common or Ring Necked pheasants, these birds are just a little larger, but seem no wiser!

The first birds we found - the ones on the stone pile - were photographed in early morning light through a dirty window!

Remarkable birds.









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10 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos! The Kalij Pheasant is such a striking bird.

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  2. Hari OM
    A very handsome pheasant indeed! YAM xx

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  3. A new bird to me! Thank you Stewart

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  4. Dear Stewart, I had to chuckle at "these birds are just a little larger, but seem no wiser!" But they are attractive (and it's often said that pretty and clever don't necessarily go hand in hand 😉). Pheasants aren't particularly clever in this country either, and unfortunately, we sometimes see some that haven't survived the road...
    All the best from Austria 🤗.
    Traude
    https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2026/06/reisebericht-2025-von-ahornblattern-und.html

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  5. Gratuluję udanych zdjęć. Nigdy tego ptaka nie widziałam, to dla mnie ciekawostka. Piękna jest samiczka.

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  6. I have seen this bird in Bhutan, Stewart, so your pictures brought back happy memories of a grand Himalayan adventure nineteen years ago.

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  7. Lovely looking birds I particularly like the 5th shots Stewart. Thanks for hosting and commenting. I hope you have a great week ahead

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  8. What a great looking bird. Thanks for the great photos.

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